Method for lubricating and protecting the oral cavity

ABSTRACT

A composition and method for lubricating and protecting the oral cavity generally and specifically the teeth, gums and tongue using a flavored petrolatum. In the preferred embodiment, the composition contains about 96%-98% (w/w) of petrolatum and about 2%-4% (w/w) of flavoring. The composition is liberally applied to the affected areas of the oral cavity to lubricate and protect those areas from initial injury that may occur during dental or medical procedures. The composition further provides for an aesthetically pleasing flavor upon application without leaving an undesirable aftertaste.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/007,424, filed on Jan. 15, 1998.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to a method for lubricating and protectingthe oral cavity using a flavored petroleum jelly.

[0003] Solid petrolatum or petroleum jelly has been used as atherapeutic agent for topical application to wounds, bums and otheraffected areas. It is well known that petroleum jelly has lubricating,softening and skin conditioning characteristics.

[0004] Among the many attributes of petrolatum which make its use intopical applications advantageous are its hydrophobicity; its adherencecharacteristics, and its lubricity, consistency and viscosity whichpermits easy application and desirable film-forming properties. Thesesame attributes are advantageous when petrolatum is used as a lubricantin and around the oral cavity, especially for medical/dental procedureswhere the health care professional is wearing rubber gloves and does notwant the gloves to adhere to the patient's teeth, tongue and gums.

[0005] Unflavored petroleum jelly is currently used as a protectant inor around the mouth for dental procedures to protect the lips and gums,or during surgery to the lips, gums and inside of the mouth to serve asa lubricant and protectant when breathing tubes and the like are placedin and around the mouth. The unfortunate side effect of this use ofpetroleum jelly is the unpleasant aftertaste in the mouth of the patientafter the procedure. It is apparent that this problem of unpleasanttaste is present whenever petroleum jelly is used in and around the oralcavity. This is true when spreader-type devices are used duringmedical/dental procedures to maintain the oral cavity in an openposition.

[0006] In the art of lubricants and protectants, the use of ointmentsand gels is well known. In the case of anesthetic gels or sexuallubricating gels, however, the gels tend to be water soluble and do notprovide adequate protection from drying. Conversely, dental productslike anesthetic and antiseptic compositions and plaque disclosingcompositions have incorporated flavorings. These compositions, however,are not petrolatum-based, have pharmacologic ingredients and thus do notprovide the desired characteristics of a flavored petrolatum for use inthe oral cavity. Finally, compositions like lip balm sold under thetrademark CHAPSTICK® have flavorings but likewise have additionalingredients such as sunscreens, camphor and menthol, are generallysolids rather than an easily applied ointment, and are not used as aprotectant and lubricant in the oral cavity.

[0007] The present invention solves the need for a lubricant andprotectant for use in and around the oral cavity having a pleasing tastefor the user. This novel invention combines petroleum jelly andflavoring to create a unique composition for keeping a patient's gums,teeth and areas in, around and surrounding the oral cavity protected,lubricated and/or moisturized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is an object of this invention to provide a method forlubricating and protecting the oral cavity using improved petroleumjelly compositions having a desirable taste.

[0009] It is another object of this invention to provide flavoredpetroleum jelly compositions for use as protectants and lubricants inand around the oral cavity.

[0010] The foregoing objects and other features and advantages of thepresent invention are achieved by a composition comprising approximately96-98% petrolatum and approximately 2-4% flavoring.

[0011] Other objects of this invention will be set forth in, or beapparent from, the following detailed description of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention relates to the composition and use offlavored petroleum jelly containing from approximately 96% to 98%petrolatum and containing from approximately 4% to 2% flavoring.

[0013] Petroleum is a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons derived bydistillation of paraffin-based petroleum fractions. The solid form maybe either water-white or pale yellow, either of which may be used in thepresent invention so long as it is U.S.P., N.F. or F.C.C. grade.

[0014] In the preferred embodiment, approximately 96% to 98% petrolatumis combined with 2% to 4% flavoring using a standard geometric dilutionprocess. When a flavoring agent like spearmint is used, approximately 2%spearmint is required to mask the unpleasant taste of approximately 98%petrolatum and create a spearmint tasting protectant ointment. When aflavoring agent like orange citrus, however, is used, approximately 4%orange citrus is required to mask the unpleasant taste of approximately96% petrolatum and create an orange citrus lubricating and protectantointment.

[0015] In the compositions of the invention, numerous other flavoringscan be combined with petrolatum in an amount sufficient to mask theundesirable taste of the petrolatum. Other flavorings include peppermintextract, licorice extract, lemon extract, cherry extract and thoselisted in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 16th edition, pp. 1230-39(1980).

[0016] Specific embodiments of the ointment compositions prepared inaccordance with the present invention are illustrated by the followingrepresentative examples. It will be understood, however, that theinvention is not confined to the specific limitations set forth in theindividual examples, but rather to the scope of the appended claims.

EXAMPLE 1

[0017] A flavored petroleum jelly composition for use as a moisturizeror lubricant in and around the oral cavity is prepared as follows: 98.0parts of petrolatum and 2.0 parts of spearmint extract are mixed bystandard geometric dilution process. The resulting ointment compositionhas the following formulation: Ingredient % W/W Petrolatum 98.00Spearmint extract 2.00 100.00

[0018] The resulting homogeneously mixed ointment was pharmaceuticallystable and had an aesthetically pleasing taste.

EXAMPLE 2

[0019] A flavored petroleum jelly composition is prepared in accordancewith the procedure of Example 1 having the following formulation:Ingredient % W/W Petrolatum 96.00 Orange citrus 4.00 100.00

[0020] Like the composition of Example 1, the resulting ointment wasstable and had a pleasant taste.

[0021] The above compositions are used to lubricate and protect the oralcavity of a patient, particularly the teeth, gums and tongue, byliberally applying the flavored ointment to the affected area usingone's fingers or a swab, etc. and uniformly coating those areas. Asstated above, the inventive ointment lubricates, moisturizes andprotects the oral cavity during medical or dental procedures, especiallywhen latex gloved hands are placed in the patient's mouth. The flavoredjelly composition can also be used in performing arts when applied tothe teeth of the performer to ease mouth movements in order to enhancesmiling.

[0022] Various other features and embodiments of the present inventionnot specifically enumerated will be obvious to those skilled in the art,all of which may be achieved without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:
 1. A method for protecting a patient's oral cavity from injuryassociated with medical or dental procedures by lubricating the oralcavity using a flavored petroleum jelly, comprising the steps of:preparing a composition containing about 96% to 98% petrolatum jelly byweight of said composition and about 2% to 4% flavoring by weight ofsaid composition; and liberally applying the flavored petroleum jellycomposition to the area of the oral cavity to be affected by the medicalor dental procedure to lubricate and protect said cavity from injuryassociated with the medical or dental procedure, the application of thepetroleum jelly for the purposes of protecting against initial injuryassociated with a medical or dental procedure rather than for treatingexisting injuries.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said compositionfurther comprises about 2% spearmint extract by weight of saidcomposition.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said composition furthercomprises 4% orange citrus by weight of said composition.